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We have measured the quality (Q) factors and resonant wavelengths for 80 photonic crystal nanocavities with the same heterostructure. In this statistical evaluation, the Q factors varied according to a normal distribution centered at 3 million and ranging between 2.3 million and 3.9 million. The resonant wavelengths also fluctuated but with a standard deviation of only 0.33 nm. Such a high average Q factor and highly controlled resonant wavelength will be important for the development of advanced applications of photonic crystal nanocavities. Comparing the experimental values with calculated values suggests that factors other than structural variations of air holes, which decrease the Q factor, are indeed present in the fabricated nanocavities.

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The intermediate state of HTLV-1 infection, often found in individuals dually infected with Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) and HTLV-1, is assumed to be a preleukemic state of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). To investigate the e ects of S. stercoralis superinfection on the natural history of HTLV-1 infection, we characterized peripheral blood samples of these individuals in Okinawa, Japan, an endemic area for both HTLV-1 and S. stercoralis and we studied e ects of the parasite antigen on T-cells. The dually infected individuals showed a signi®cantly higher provirus load and an increase in CD4 + 25 + T cell population, with a signi®cant, positive correlation. This increase was attributable to polyclonal expansion of HTLV-1-infected cells, as demonstrated by inverse-long PCR analysis of the integration sites. S. stercoralis antigen activated the IL-2 promoter in reporter gene assays, induced production of IL-2 by PBMC in vitro, and supported growth of IL-2 dependent cell lines immortalized by HTLV-1 infection or the transduction of Tax. Taken collectively, these results indicate that S. stercoralis infection induces polyclonal expansion of HTLV-1-infected cells by activating the IL-2/IL-2R system in dually infected carriers, an event which may be a precipitating factor for ATL and in¯ammatory diseases.

SUMMARYStrongyloidiasis, a human intestinal infection caused by Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis), is difficult to cure with drugs. In particular, a decrease of the efficacy of treatment has been reported in patients dually infected with S. stercoralis and human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I), both of which are endemic in Okinawa, Japan. However, the factors influencing this resistance remain unclear. In the present study, patients infected with S. stercoralis, with or without HTLV-I infection, were treated with albendazole, followed up for one year and separated into two groups, cured and non-cured. The cure rate of S. stercoralis was lower in HTLV-I carriers (P < 0·05). Serum levels of S. stercoralis-specific IgA, IgE, IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies were estimated, and a decrease of IgE (P < 0·05) and an increase of IgG4 (P < 0·05) were observed in the non-cured group, especially in HTLV-I carriers. RT-PCR of cytokines using peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed that S. stercoralis patients with HTLV-I showed a high frequency of expression of IFN-g and TGF-b1, whereas those without HTLV-I showed no expression of these cytokines. IFN-g-and TGF-b1-positive HTLV-I carriers showed a decrease of IgE (P < 0·05), an increase of IgG4 (P < 0·01) and a lower cure rate (P < 0·01) compared with those who were negative for both cytokines. These results suggest that persistent infection with HTLV-I affected S. stercoralis-specific immunity and reduced therapeutic efficacy.